It was a week of scuba diving (Dan), exploring the beach bare-footed, boating past mangrove trees, reading, entertaining monkeys and macaws, marveling at the sloths, catching a sunset, making new friends, and enjoying international cuisine.
Dan and I recently returned from Roatan, an island off the coast of Honduras. Dan earned his 200th dive pin while there. During his mornings of underwater explorations, I wrote from my office on the beach.
One afternoon, we visited an animal preserve. The sloth area consisted of natural tall trees alongside a smaller setup of tree trunks and thick branches at eye level with the visitors. No cages are included in this scenario.
Seeing a sloth up close and personal, and watching how consistently he paced himself, slowly reaching out for the next branch and leisurely swinging his legs over—it was nothing short of miraculous. And smile-worthy.
Monkeys are not indigenous to Roatan, so the extra-large monkey cages were designed to shelter the critters that people brought over to the island, but then abandoned. We walked in and were told to let them just be monkeys. Which meant they jumped from our heads to our shoulders to heads—and back again—looking for food.
Fuzzy little miracles. Also smile-worthy.
One day while on the island, a tropical storm swept in. Rain splattered on the stone pavers, tall palm trees bent in the gale, and the beach was almost emptied. I sat in my sandy office just 20 feet from the waves, sheltered beneath thick tree branches.
This storm—a thing of beauty—arrived all dark and exciting, cooling the temperature, watering the lush landscape. The sound of palm trees whooshing in heavy gusts, the cacophony of crashing waves—it was a musical feast.
Speaking of waves, that’s another miracle. Sitting within a stone’s throw of the ocean, it crashed onto the beach, wave after wave after wave. And never went beyond its boundaries. How miraculous is that?
I like these lines from the Magnolia Manifesto:
We believe in unearthing beauty,
however hidden or subtle it might be.
We believe that each day is a gift and that everyday miracles
are scattered about, if only we have eyes to see.
Our time on Roatan was a week of unearthing beauty and witnessing miracles—beneath the waves and topside.
Here’s the thing: we don’t need to be on a tropical island to experience miracles. Or beauty. Because it’s all around us. I think our part in unearthing it can be as simple as paying attention. Noticing. Pointing it out. Standing with mouth open in awe.
I’d love to hear about recent miracles that have played out in your life.
Peggy M Carey
Love you Marlys! Thanks for the story.
Marlys Lawry
Love you, too, Peggy. Thanks for reading!
Peter Howe B.E.M.
I am pleased for you, that your sharing, noticing the beauty of something we might otherwise take as ordinary, those precious moments reach deep inside, and I pray we share those moments. Dan’s diving took me to the Red Sea, after I had completed a fund raiser cycle challenge in Israel, Jordan & Egypt, in support of a cause for children with leukaemia. My scuba diving couldn’t match Dan’s experiences, but nothing prepares one for the miracle moments… e.g. when a dolphin came over my shoulder, swung round , stopped a while and looked back towards me as if it was saying, ‘come on then, I won’t hurt you’… yes I touched it, a very lovely, personal happening. How true, we don’t have to go anywhere to experience God’s sharing of His wilderness… like the clear moon on it’s back, just 2 nights ago, with an airliner passing, in the moon’s hollow… a perfect fit… & It was so beautiful, for me… & all who cared to notice. Thanks Marlys, sure you had a memorable in Roatan, loved the photo’s… peaceful scenes. Bless you. Peter & family.
Marlys Lawry
I’ve heard the Red Sea is a beautiful place to dive, Peter. So glad you have the opportunity to do that!